breaking right now, a major earthquake hits japan. >> a tsunami warning issued. severe shaking in the same area that was devastated by that tsunami back in 2011. we are live in tokyo with the very latest. we get a critical snapshot of the economy this morning. when we'll learn if hurricane sandy also devastated the nation's job market. incredible crash. a jewelry store gets a drive-through. an employee inches from a very different outcome. and 24/7? is round-the-clock shopping the next trend in holiday retailing? one megadepartment store is betting on it.

good friday morning, everyone. we do begin with breaking news out of japan right now. a strong earthquake hit the northeastern part of the country this morning. and it has triggered a tsunami warning. >> the quake measured a 7.3. it was centered in the pacific ocean. it was strong enough to cause buildings to sway in tokyo for several minutes. abc's akiko fujita is in tokyo with the very latest by phone. high, akiko. >> reporter: you're right. this quake hit about 5:18 p.m. local time. this is the largest quake we have felt in tokyo this year. to give you an idea of the intensity, in japan, they have a one to seven scale. this was about a five. it's a very strong quake, felt all the way out here. the big concern right now is the possibility of a tsunami along the northeast coast of japan. that is the same area that was devastated last year during

2011. right now, we have not seen any reports of tsunami waves just yet. the meteorological agency here has forecast waves about three feet high to hit the miyagi prefecture. we've not gotten any reports of a tsunami. but all of those cities along the coast have been told to evacuate, just as a precaution. you can imagine, they're taking that warning very seriously after that whey experienced last year. >> i was going to say, any immediate dangers reported right now, though? >> reporter: we are not hearing of any immediate reports of damages or injuries. i got off the phone with tepco that operates the fukushima nuclear plant. they have no reports. they had about 3,000 people working there at the time. or they have about 3,000 people working there on a daily basis.

they have all been evacuated, told to stay indoors. but no reports of damages there, as well as other cities. but, of course, it was just 45 minutes ago. we're still monitoring right now. >> okay. that's akiko fujita on the phone. an earthquake, along the northeast coast. tsunami warnings. we'll keep an eye on that and bring you the latest. you can tell the jolt from that camera, how it's swaying. and so reminiscent of that scene we saw in the devastating tsunami back in 2011. again, we'll keep an eye on it throughout the morning. keep it here on abc news. on top of that, more breaking news from overseas. this time from egypt. all sides, now, digging in for what could be another very violent day of protest. >> soldiers are positioned outside the presidential palace in cairo. a clashes of pro and anti-government mobs. president morsi is promising to

meet with opposition leaders but won't give up his absolute power over the government. he is also refusing to cancel next week's vote on a new constitution. president obama spoke with morsi yesterday via phone, calling the violence unacceptable. and back here at home, we get a new snapshot of the economy this morning, when the government releases its jobs report for the month of november. it's believed that several factors combined seriously hampered last month's hiring. among them, concerns about the looming fiscal cliff. and other factors, as well. abc's tahman bradley has that story from washington. >> reporter: the fiscal cliff is still three weeks away. but the economy may have already taken a hit. economists predict the government's monthly jobs report, due out later this morning, will show that employers added fewer than 100,000 workers in november. superstorm sandy may be part of the reason job creation slowed. but worry over the fiscal cliff may have also had an immaterial pact. some economists believe that 200,000 fewer jobs thhave been

created this year, due to uncertainty about the fiscal cliff. >> it's very important we get it done now. >> reporter: republicans and democrats are talking again. but still, no breakthrough. the parties are locked in a stalemate. president obama is demanding that higher tax rates for the wealthy and a permanent extension of the debt ceiling, the government's ability to borrow money, be part of the deal. >> he's assuming unprecedented power to spend taxpayer dollars out any limit at all. >> reporter: republicans who say they're open to raising tax revenue say they will only do so in exchange for deep spending cuts. if washington can't strike a deal, one casualty will be compensation for the long-term unemployed. that means people like linda vega, are worried. >> christmas and things of that nature are probably off the table. >> reporter: aides to president obama and speaker boehner met yesterday afternoon. but that meeting ended with no discernible signs of progress. rob and paula?

>> thanks, tahman. once the numbers are all tallied, they're going to show that the 2012 presidential election was the most expensive in history. campaign finance statements put the total cost at well above $2 billion. virtually split down the middle between president obama and mitt romney. that includes nearly $86 million raised by romney during the election's final weeks. and someone who has apparently run his last senate republican jim demint. he announced yesterday he is leaving the senate on january 1st in order to leave a conse e conservative thinktank. whoever is chosen to lead the south carolina governor, a special election in 2014 to finish out his term. a new twist in the very bizarre case of software pioneer john mcafee. the former fugitive is waking up in a detention cell in guatemala this morning, one day after being hospitalized. mcafee told abc news he suffered chest pains and then passed out.

doctors don't believe he actually had a heart attack. mcafee spent three weeks running from police in belize. that's where he's wanted for questioning about the murder of his american neighbor. now, to washington state, where if you are over 21 years of age, it's now legal to possess a small amount of marijuana. the new law legalizing pot went into effect yesterday. as abc's neal karlinsky reports, the new law is full of contradictions. >> i'm over 21. >> sure. >> reporter: if i pull out an ounce of marijuana, and you're an officer, what do you say to me? >> i'm going to say nothing, quite honestly. >> reporter: in fact, they joke on the official police website, "you may responsibly get baked, order some pizzas and enjoy a 'lord of the rings' marathon in the privacy of your own home." but even though it's legal to have it, it's not yet legal to sell marijuana to the masses. at least not for another year, while the state establishes rules for this now budding industry.

entrepreneurs, or pot-trepeneurs, like this former microsoft manager are already making plans to open starbucks-like stores. >> the category of premium marijuana. think like a fine brandy, a fine cognac. >> reporter: drug policy experts worry the new law could spark new problems. >> the price of marijuana will drop dramatically and consumption will increase. that spells bad news for parents and researchers who are realizing that today's marijuana is not your woodstock weed of the '60s. it is much more harmful. >> reporter: authorities are watching closely. time, now, for a look at weather across the country on this friday morning. we have showers from seattle to portland. up to a foot of snow in the cascades and northern rockies. and a few inches of snow in the dakotas to green bay. morning showers from chicago to the ohio valley, spreading to the northeast by this afternoon. >> 70s in new orleans, dallas and phoenix. 23 in fargo. 30s in billings and minneapolis. and coming up next on this friday morning, we'll update that breaking news story. a major earthquake this morning in japan. and then, money news and what could be the newest trend in last-minute christmas

shopping. stores open around the clock. and later, a delivery truck in a very tight spot.

welcome back, everybody. the nation's income-based college student loan repayment program gets an overhaul today. the new so-called pay as you earn program, allows eligible student borrowers to cap payments to 10% of their discretionary income. they have have their loans forgiven after 20 years.

the world's largest company born in america will soon be selling products with the label made in america. bowing to criticism, apple announced it will move production of some mac computers from china back into the u.s. the decision may be more economic with patriotic, with chinese wages on the rise. iphones and ipads will be assembled overseas. and macy's are inviting customers to shop until you drop for the final week of christmas. macy's will be open from 48 hours straight, from december 21st to the 23rd, giving some shoppers much-needed time. if the move pays off for macy's, expect other stores to follow suit. >> good news for procrastinators. >> like you. >> exactly. "fifty shades of grey" is turning into green for random

house employees. thanks in part to the hugely popular book and its sequels, every employee from editors to warehouse workers is getting a $5,000 bonus. woo. not bad at all. >> 5,000 shades of grey. >> a lot of satisfied readers. when we come back, baby swap. a careless hospital mixup that has two new mothers fighting mad. and gone from the gridiron, an nfl staple may soon be getting the boot. ♪ you are my sunshine, my only sunshine ♪

♪ you make me happy [ female announcer ] choose the same brand your mom trusted for you. children's tylenol, the #1 brand of pain and fever relief recommended by pediatricians and used by moms decade after decade.

so ditch the brown bag for something better. like our bacon ranch quesadillas or big mouth burger bites, served with soup or salad, and fries. starting at just 6 bucks, at chili's. ♪ santa claus is coming to town ♪ president obama and the first lady and their daughters belting out christmas carols with neil patrick harris and a host of other entertainers. the sing along followed the

lighting of the annual christmas tree. the newly transplanted 28-foot blue spruce as thousands looked on. now, for a look at your morning road conditions today. a slick commute around portland and seattle. snowy roads in the cascades, northern rockieses and upper midwest. highways will be wet from chicago to new york. >> if you're flying, airport delays possible in minneapolis, and on the east coast, in new york, boston and philadelphia. and back to the news this morning. a heartbreaking survival story for a woman stranded in the snow on california's sierra nevada mountains. >> paula lane and her boyfriend were missing nearly a week after their car was stuck in a snowstorm. clifton froze to death trying to find help. lane was found wednesday in a hollowed-out tree, suffering from frostbite. news she was still alive stunned rescuers, doctors and her own family. >> to say, i found her, i found her.

i can't even explain it. >> lane ate snow and tomatoes she had with her to stay alive. she will be hospitalized for a few more days. a minneapolis hospital is apologizing for a maternity ward mixup that horrified two new moms. a baby boy was mistakenly taken to the wrong mother and breast fed by that mom. northwestern hospital acknowledged the error after the woman noticed the i.d. badge did not match up. and realized the newborn was not hers. >> how could this happen? what do you mean you went to somebody else's room? what do you mean, somebody else breast fed my son? what? >> the hospital has launched an official investigation now. meanwhile, both moms and the baby are undergoing tests to make sure nothing was passed on to the child. also, a tennessee jewelry store will be open for business today, even though it's mostly in shambles.

that's because an suv plowed through the front glass, nearly taking out a clerk and smashing several showcases before it finally came to a stop. amazingly, that clerk was not injured, although she was a little shaken up, obviously. saying, she felt the air of the suv as it rushed right past her. >> frightening. well, a parking lot in eastern idaho almost guzzled down an entire beer truck. the driver of this budweiser truck was making a morning delivery when one of his wheels started sinking into that asphalt. what felt like a blown tire. it turned out to be a giant sinkhole, four feet deep. it took two tow trucks to free the delivery truck and the bud. no condition on the beer. >> that's alcohol abuse. the nhl's lockout and its players are showing no signeds of ending anytime soon. a strange couple of minutes last night, donald ferh held two news

conference. he revealed that the league had rejected the players' newest offer. league commissioner, gary bettman, says there's no drop-dead date to start the season. and could kickoffs in the nfl soon be phased out? it's a subject raised in a new "time" magazine interview with league commissioner roger goodell. goodell discusses a proposal, in which after a touchdown, instead of kicking off, the team that scored would either run one play from its own 30 yard line or punt from the same spot. now, the idea is, punt coverage plays are less likely to create violent commissions than do kickoffs. interesting. food for thought there. >> won't be the same. college football's highest individual honor is handed out here in new york, the favorites are notre dame linebacker. here's thursday night highlights from espn. >> cassidy hubbarth here.

the broncos taking on the oakland raiders. in the first, peyton manning finds dreesen for the touchdown. that's manning's 30th passing t.d. this season. broncos up 7-0. in the third quarter, raiders down 13-7. carson palmer, sacked, fumbled. palmer also had an interception. his ninth-straight game with an i.n.t. moreno rushed for 33 times and 119 yards. broncos win, 26-13. let's head to the association. knicks visiting the heat. carmelo anthony with an injury to his nonshooting hand. dwyane wade to lebron james. james finished with 31. in the third, knicks up six. raymond felton was hot from beyond the arc. had six three-pointers. he also finished with 27 points. later, knicks cruising. jason kidd to j.r. smith. new york wins 112-92.

they beat the heat for the second time this season. that's your "sportscenter" update. have a great day. >> we will, cassidy. thanks. up next in "the pulse." a new way for your dog to know it's that time again. and bottom's up at the magic kingdom. a happy place is getting a lot kingdom. a happy place is getting a lot happier from here on in.ob, guy with an irregular heartbeat. the usual, bob? not today. [ male announcer ] bob has afib: atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem, a condition that puts him at greater risk for a stroke. [ gps ] turn left. i don't think so. [ male announcer ] for years, bob took warfarin, and made a monthly trip to the clinic to get his blood tested. but not anymore. bob's doctor recommended a different option: once-a-day xarelto®. xarelto® is the first and only once-a-day prescription blood thinner for patients with afib not caused by a heart valve problem, that doesn't require routine blood monitoring. like warfarin, xarelto® is proven effective

to reduce the risk of an afib-related stroke. there is limited data on how these drugs compare when warfarin is well managed. no routine blood monitoring means bob can spend his extra time however he likes. new zealand! xarelto® is just one pill a day, taken with the evening meal. and with no dietary restrictions, bob can eat the healthy foods he likes. do not stop taking xarelto® rivaroxaban without talking to the doctor who prescribes it for you. stopping may increase your risk of having a stroke. get medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of bleeding, like unusual bruising or tingling. you may have a higher risk of bleeding if you take xarelto® with aspirin products, nsaids or blood thinners. talk to your doctor before taking xarelto® if you currently have abnormal bleeding. xarelto® can cause bleeding, which can be serious, and rarely may lead to death. you are likely to bruise more easily on xarelto®, and it may take longer for bleeding to stop. tell your doctors you are taking xarelto® before any planned medical or dental procedures.

before starting xarelto®, tell your doctor about any conditions, such as kidney, liver or bleeding problems. ready to change your routine? ask your doctor about once-a-day xarelto®. for more information including cost support options, call 1-888-xarelto or visit goxarelto.com. time to check "the pulse." big news at disney world. one more reason to go. and a dream come true for visitors at the new fantasyland. >> for the very first time, alcoholic beverages are being offered at the magic kingdom in orlando, florida. yesterday's opening of the expanded park, was toasted with

beer and wine. a spokesperson says fantasyland is the most popular part of disney world. and now, even more so for many adults. disney, of course, is the parent company of abc. bottom's up, y'all. and next, the gadget for when the dog's just got to go. it's called the doggy doorbell. it's the creation of a man in oregon, after his dog ruined doors by scratching them every time he needs to go out. >> when pebble needs to go out or come back in, he rings that bell. no more scratching. the inventor says his doorbell . >> that's going to be a big hit. and a baby elephant born at the oregon zoo, is not letting a legal battle get in the way of cuddling. she meets her big brother for the first time. the siblings exchanged a few tugs on their trunks.

for some of you, now, local news is next. there's big news. presenting androgel 1.62%. both are used to treat men with low testosterone. androgel 1.62% is from the makers of the number one prescribed testosterone replacement therapy. it raises your testosterone levels, and... is concentrated, so you could use less gel. and with androgel 1.62%, you can save on your monthly prescription. [ male announcer ] dosing and application sites between these products differ. women and children should avoid contact with application sites. discontinue androgel and call your doctor if you see unexpected signs of early puberty in a child, or, signs in a woman which may include changes in body hair or a large increase in acne, possibly due to accidental exposure. men with breast cancer or who have or might have prostate cancer, and women who are, or may become pregnant or are breast feeding should not use androgel. serious side effects include worsening of an enlarged prostate, possible increased risk of prostate cancer, lower sperm count, swelling of ankles, feet,

or body, enlarged or painful breasts, problems breathing during sleep, and blood clots in the legs. tell your doctor about your medical conditions and medications, especially insulin, corticosteroids, or medicines to decrease blood clotting. talk to your doctor today about androgel 1.62% so you can use less gel. log on now to androgeloffer.com and you could pay as little as ten dollars a month for androgel 1.62%. what are you waiting for? this is big news. i made the clear choice. i'm getting claritin clear with claritin-d. nasal congestion keep me away ? not since i made the clear choice. non-drowsy claritin-d. decongestant products on the shelf can take hours to start working. claritin-d starts to work in just 30 minutes. i can't wait hours for a nasal decongestant. that's why i made the clear choice and got claritin-d. it has the best decongestant for colds. this cold season, get claritin-d at the pharmacy counter. live claritin clear.

updating the top stories. breaking news in japan. a very powerful earthquake in the pacific ocean triggered a tsunami warning in this morning. it caused buildings to sway in tokyo. bracing for more violence in egypt. soldiers in barbed-wire barricades block the palace in congress. and today is december 7th, 71 years to the day after the japanese attack on pearl harbor, a day that will live in infamy. flags are at half-staff to honor the 2,400 americans who died. showers from portland to seattle. snow in the cascades, northern rockies and upper midwest. also, showers from chicago to new york. finally from us this morning, the late-night comics can't seem to get enough of the goings on in washington. >> nor could we.

and we start with stephen colbert addressing new speculation he would run for senate from his own state of south carolina. >> tonight's big story comes from my home state of south carolina. big, breaking news in this town. senator jim demint, a tea party favorite and conservative icon, is surprisingly resigning his seat at the end of the year. >> that's right. south carolina senator jim demint is dequitting. [ laughter ] now, the decision on who will replace demint falls to south carolina governor and friend of the show, nikki haley. but who will she pick? let's see. you want somebody young. somebody conservative. somebody from south carolina. maybe who had a super pac. wait a second. [ cheers and applause ] watch where you point that thing. it's powerful. okay. >> listen to this.

the pentagon is preparing for massive budget cuts in the event the country does go over the fiscal cliff. you can tell the pentagon is scaling back. today, it became the triangle. [ laughter ] you know, there's a teacher at home going, yes. my math teacher, exactly. he learned something. >> a lot of people said after the election, what will mitt romney do? because he's out of a job, didn't get the job he wanted and, you know, honestly, you can only spend so much time with your money. so, people were saying, what will mitt romney -- he's got a job. he's working at a marriott, ladies and gentlemen. working at a marriott. he's the guy that comes out to the pool and tells the kids to stop splashing. come on, kids. hey, fellas. listen to me. settle down here. >> that could have been funnier. that's what's making news in